DOJ announces $26M in grants to fight sexual violence

by Lydia Wheeler - 09/28/15 12:30 PM ET

The Obama administration announced plans on Monday to spend $26 million to help community organizations respond to sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking.

The grant funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) will go to 44 organizations in 31 states to help counties, cities and towns create and enhance collaborative partnerships between criminal justice agencies, victim service providers and community organizations.

“Sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are serious crimes that require a robust criminal justice system response in coordination with community based organizations and victim service providers,” Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates said in a news release. “This program challenges the whole community to work together to identify barriers and develop solutions that enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable.”

The funding will come through the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program.